Do Allergy Symptoms Go Away After the First Frost?

We’re often asked why allergies persist after the frost has come through and killed most of the grass and leaves around us.

The truth is that sometimes your allergies may persist, and sometimes they may not.

Let us break it down for you:

1. It depends on your region.

For example, the biggest allergens for our patients in Albuquerque, New Mexico don’t necessarily come from grass and trees, as it is for our patients in Shreveport, Louisiana.

If you’re in Shreveport, then yes!

Your allergy symptoms will greatly benefit from the first frost’s coming and going.

2. It depends on your outdoor conditions.

An even bigger trigger than grass, trees, and pollen is the winter’s #1 offender: MOLD.

If you’re in an area that provides a great nesting ground for mold buildup, the frost may leave behind opportunities for mold.

In this case, the frost isn’t doing your allergies any favors.

3. It depends on your indoor allergens.

That likelihood of mold isn’t only outdoors. Damp outdoor conditions often result in moldy indoor conditions.

And, what’s worse, is that dust is more likely to build up during winter, when there is little to no fresh air. As we’ve said before, if you know that your home has a dust problem or a mold problem, you should be as vigilant in cleaning/removing these triggers as you are in medicating against them.

When it’s frosty outside, you’re also more likely to keep your dander-bearing pets inside with you.

So, if you have pets, you can add that to the list of reasons why the frost isn’t taking away all your allergy symptoms.

So what should you do?

To have an allergist that knows you and your symptoms, who can guide you on how to eliminate the allergens posing the biggest threat to your health.